Photo courtesy of the WebOm Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!
I was once in a debate where I had to argue the pros of using slang in the English language. My opponent had suggested the subject and picked the con side. She had an agenda. She spoke the King's English having been educated in the British Virgin Islands and London and bristled at American English, Ebonics, (before the phrase was coined) and slang in general. I felt that she had a huge chip on her shoulder and a large stick in her tush. On the plus side, she had beautiful skin and great legs. But I digress!
We debated for about 20 minutes in front of the class, then she said,that using slang makes you appear to be uneducated!
An opening! I went for it! I stated " True Education should not be judged by how you speak but how well you can take the information that you have learned and process it in order to explain it with people in a way they can understand!
I won!
It was the last and only time that I would ever win an argument with a Woman hands down! (Laughter)
I thought about my statement when thinking about the asanas and concepts like Sauca and Ahisma. I've read the information. I've memorized the meanings. I've practiced the pronunciations but have I learned anything?
As a Christian this comes up for me all the time. We have all met or know a Bible thumper who can quote the scriptures, chapter and verse. But they don't know what it means! See memorization is external and knowing the meaning truly is an internal process. Only you will know if you've learned anything.
I'm still practicing though. Practice! Damn it! It's like Praising the Lord! Hallelujah anyhow! That's right! You ain't sure the Lord hears your prayers but you shout his name anyhow! The same thing goes practcing the asanas, studying the concepts and praying and meditating! Practice!
More than likely what you learn will come out when you're explaining Yoga to someone who doesn't understand.
BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee
